Outdoor STEAM Storytime: Outside You Notice by Erin Alladin

Welcome to Week 4 of our Outdoor STEAM Storytime series—where each week we pair a beautiful picture book with a simple, nature-inspired STEAM activity perfect for preschoolers.

These storytime invitations are designed to help young children explore the world through curiosity, creativity, and play—all while building foundational STEAM thinking.

This week’s book invites children to pause, notice, and connect with the world around them through their senses.

📚 Outside You Notice by Erin Alladin

This gentle, engaging book uses lyrical language and beautiful illustrations to encourage children to explore the outdoors with wonder. From the feel of the wind to the sound of rustling leaves, it reminds us that nature is always offering something—if we take the time to look and listen.

🧠 STEAM Focus: Sensory Exploration + Observation

This story highlights the power of the five senses in early science. Children learn best when they use their whole bodies to explore, and this book lays the foundation for mindful observation and inquiry.

🔍 Tip for Teachers:

This is a great week to slow down and go on a sensory walk. You don’t need a big plan—just a willingness to follow the children’s curiosity.

👣 Outdoor STEAM Invitation: Senses Walk + Nature Noticing

Materials Needed:

• Clipboards or cardboard with paper
• Crayons or pencils
• Optional: Magnifying glasses, baskets for collecting

Try This:

1. Take a slow walk outside. Invite children to notice what they see, hear, feel, and smell.
2. Pause often. Ask, “What is the outside showing us right now?”

Record observations. Let children draw or describe what they notice using pictures or marks—leaves rustling, bird sounds, the feeling of grass or bark.

🌸 Extension Idea: Make a Nature Senses Book

Staple together a few sheets of paper to create a simple book. Title it “What I Noticed Outside.” On each page, children can draw or collage something they saw, heard, smelled, or touched. Add one sense per page or let them create freely.This not only supports early literacy but helps them reflect on what it means to notice.

💬 Questions to Spark Curiosity:

• What do you hear when you stop and listen?
• Can you feel the breeze? Where is it coming from?
• What smells can you find in nature?
• What does the ground feel like beneath your feet?

✏️ Reflect & Record:

After your walk, ask: “What was your favorite part of being outside today?” Let children draw it, act it out, or share their answer during circle time.

🐣 For Toddlers (Ages 1–2):

This book is a wonderful match for toddler exploration. Go outside and let toddlers touch leaves, run fingers through grass, and listen for birds. Narrate their experiences: “You felt the wind!” “You heard a bird!” Encourage collecting and dumping leaves or pebbles for a tactile extension.